“Out Like A Light”: Campus Power Outage

On Monday, November 12, Southern University classes were delayed until 1 pm due to temporary power outages across campus.
SGA President, Anthony Kenney posted on Twitter when complications began Saturday morning, “A power pole broke this morning at about 2. We have completed a campus assessment… Back residence halls are still out as of this tweet. Water Pump System was affected as well. They’re currently fixing as we speak.”
Emails sent out to students announcing the delay listed the areas affected as of Monday morning, “Law Center and Law Annex, Higgins Hall, Mayberry Dining Hall, John B. Cade Library, J.S. Clark Administration, Donald Wade House, Southern University Museum of Art, J.S Clark Annex (Human Resources), Lottie Anthony, Dunn Dining Hall, Bradford Hall, Boley Hall.”
Boley Hall and Dunn Dining Hall have been without power and water since complications began. Residents of Boley and Bradford Hall were provided with temporary housing, as well as meals until complications are resolved.
Junior marketing major, Myah Page from Hammond, Louisiana expressed, “When the power outage happened, I didn’t think it would last very long… it was very inconvenient for me and other students. We had to be transported to a hotel and we’ve been here for the past 3 days.”
While most students are able to remain on campus, they have shared concerns as well. Celeste Maine, freshman business marketing major from West Monroe, Louisiana agreed, “The power outage is aggravating because many students have lost food, have gotten sick… and have not been able to meet deadlines for classes. Though aggravated, I understand things happen… I do appreciate the improvement in terms of communication during this inconvenience…”
The Smith-Brown Memorial Union was utilized to provide students with meals while both dining halls were inoperable.
Around noon, an email sent out alerting students that power had been restored to campus, “with the exception of Dunn Dining Hall and Boley Residential Hall.”
On Saturday, a notification sent out stated, “There is busted pipe underground on the side of Shade Hall.” However, Director of Housing, Tracie Abraham is “…not certain on what caused the power outage. It was more of a campus-wide issue. It wasn’t just isolated to housing.”
As students grow impatient with power failures on campus, Abraham informs, “The students should be able to return to the residence halls today.”
Unsure of the root issue causing power outages on campus, the Southern Digest reached out to the Office of Communications and the Office of Facility Services, both were unavailable for comment.
Until campus power is fully restored, Abraham remarks, “The students that we moved from Boley and Bradford Hall to hotels were very, very cooperative, patient, pleasant, and well behaved… I just want to thank them for being patient with us.”